What is
inquiry?
Inquiry is a process in which students are given more opportunities to
investigate topics of interest within the realm of an essential,
overriding question. Students, teachers, and librarians conference frequently as the
investigation progresses. It is flexible and driven by the standards and
the curriculum. It is also highly motivating for students which results
in superior products.

Historical fiction
short stories

Seventh grade students do research
on a topic from American History and then use what they've learned to
create authentic settings for their historical fiction short stories.
Other information literacy components include using the terms and/or to
narrow or expand a search on a database, using quotations in search boxes,
and using inference in research especially when examining primary
pictures.

In this eighth grade inquiry
project, the essential question is how do events in history impact
today's society? It is a cross-curricular unit involving social
studies, language arts, and math in collaboration with the school
librarian. Students choose a current event of interest to them and
explore its roots in history. They generate primary data through surveys
or interviews on the topic, write a research paper, and choose the
method by which they will share their knowledge with others. The project
spans half of the school year in measured intervals.